Struggling along as best I can

Cherryfudge

I always think you are amazing because you save up so well and plan ahead for what you will need. The fridge/freezer is a case in point, and so is the way you grow so much and freeze it.

When things are tight, though, every little helps (as a certain supermarket keeps reminding us). I wonder if you might be eligible for a white goods grant (WHITE GOODS GRANTS - How To Get Them | October 2023 (ukcareguide.co.uk) )? Your current freezer must be eating up your electricity and if it failed it would be a rush to get a new one before the contents defrosted. I don't know how they decide who is eligible or not, but it couldn't hurt to try, as it might protect not only what's already in your freezer, but also protect financially by letting you use savings elsewhere and not having to make a quick decision on what to get. If you were eligible, it might also be an option to add some savings to the grant to get an energy-efficient freezer or something.

All that said, I'll repeat what I've already said - you do a superb job. You've paid for these things in advance, in my mind, by putting your resources into bringing up your children and now helping with their children. That's a family of people off to a more stable start in life thanks to you, which is worth a lot.

nannygladys

Thank you all for the welcome back 💞

I’ve been busy this morning with a bit of housework, the usual laundry and sorting out a small unit that houses my papers etc, in other words a bit of a dumping ground! Anyway it always better when I see a pile of stuff to shred or recycle and then go outside for disposal 🙂

I made some noodle soup for dinner and I’ve put some veggies and beans into the sc for tea as it’s quite cool outside, well it is to me. I’ve had a quick look in the fridge and freezer and it looks like hm leek and potato soup with hm bread for dinner tomorrow and my last portion of a tagine  for tea and that leaves just one more hm freezer meal left n there, but there’s still quite a lot of veggie mince etc so next week I’ll try to use some of that.

As for the tv, the main reason I don’t watch it anymore goes back to last winter, when it was really cold, I chose to debunk to live in the kitchen/dining room where’s it’s warmer and has a comfortable chair and when spring came I was down the Lottie and in the garden a lot -  until I had the eye test anyway. And then just never went back to using the front room so much. It was always cold in there until I replaced the canopy over the bay window which has improved the heat situation so much but it still needs papering and other bits doing when I get the sign off for the eyes, I’m going to be like supergran after this sign off trying to get things done 🤣🤣🤣

On the money front I’ve been looking at the budgets again, not sure how much I can do but on the positive side I have found some cash in the petrol purse, I allocate the same amount each month even when there’s some left in there and it mounts up slowly, anyway I came across it after not putting anything in there whilst not driving and when I counted it there was just over £100🙂 I’m a happy little bunny but I’m not going to spend it it’ll stay where it is for the moment until I decide what it’s going to be allocated to.

So I’m feeling much happier today, my mind is getting clearer and I think it’s a combination of feeling cross with myself for recklessly spending and as someone said being penned in for so long, I don’t live in the countryside but in a very hilly small town that is in a valley and I live on one of the  hill sides!!! So wherever I walk to it’s always up hill on the way back😀 but I wouldn’t want to move as I’m within walking distance of beautiful countryside one way and a small town centre the other way. Anyway I’ll stop rambling on and get on with making a start on the back bedroom wardrobe, there’s not a lot in there but I want to empty it and hoover it out and put it all back and then I can shut the doors and forget about it !!!😀

nannyg 

nannygladys

Cherryfudge - I will have a look at the link but I’m not 75 yet, got a few more years, well not the many, but you never know unless you try!! So thanks for that. It won’t bother me if I’m not because it only seems to go on when dgc visit 😀 but thanks.

nannygladys

Kayannie- I’d never thought of that, thanks 🙂

nannygladys

cherryfudge -  I’ve just checked the to licence and it applies to over 75’s, but not to worry I rarely watch it🙂

nannygladys

cherryfudge - I’ve just looked at the white goods grant and I might qualify but I will have to look when I had my boiler fitted, so I will see if I can find some paperwork tomorrow! I had my boiler fitted whilst at work and I’ve been retired 8 years, worked the last 5 years in Sainsburys as I had paid the mortgage off and wanted to work part time after working in offices all my working life and I’m pretty sure it was before then, so I’ll delve more into it. Thank you for pointing me in that direction, even if nothing comes of it! 🙂

nannygladys

cherryfudge - thank you for the kind complements. My three girls mean the world to me and thankfully we are all close,  they are more savvy with money than me and given me seven grandchildren between them! I’m very proud of them all and although their fathers weren’t always around I hope I gave them more than enough love even when we didn’t have much money. So thanks again 🙂

Cherryfudge

I had a suspicion you might not be old enough (you don't look it ).

Even if the boiler wasn't long ago, you could perhaps save the grants information for another day, it could work in your favour some time.

The extra cash from the petrol money is great - a bit of an early Christmas present to yourself! Talking of which, if any of your new books are unread, could you set aside one of two for a Christmas treat to yourself if that helps you not to feel guilty? Not that you should feel guilty - little treats smooth life along a bit and you've had a lot to put up with. My version of this is that I buy small treats for myself - a second-hand book or piece of china, for instance, and ask a loved one if I could have it for Christmas or birthday. It takes guesswork out of gift giving and saves money, and I've nearly always forgotten the details by the time it gets given back to me!

[Deleted User]

Can I ask if you have any occupational pensions due to you? You say you worked in offices most of your life and in Sainsburys for 5 years. Are you sure you did not belong to any schemes?

KxMx

There is a cost of living payment due shortly, and your winter fuel payment should be higher again this year 🙂

Also you may be entitled to some help with glasses, dentist (haha if you can find an NHS appointment) etc:
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme